CRS home >> Scotiabank Vancouver Half
NEWS RELEASE — May 8, 2008
Racing for a Cure
Mom channels athleticism and motivation to find a cure for son
Prince George, May 8, 2008 — Alison Hoskins does what many moms must do for their sick children. She takes her six-year old son Zachary to the hospital every day to receive testing and injections. She picks him up when his ankles are too sore for him to walk. But now she's taking her efforts to a new level - she's running to find a cure for his juvenile arthritis. On June 22, 2008, Alison will run in the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k to raise money for The Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon Division, so that children like Zachary won't have to cope with their pain anymore.
Alison was galvanized into action in November 2007, when she told Zachary that they had to go back to the hospital for more lengthy and painful joint injections. "Zachary started crying and he said, 'Mommy, I don't need those. I just cope,'" she said. "It broke my and my husband's hearts that our, or any other, child would know what it means to cope with a debilitating disease. I knew I had to do something."
Alison is running the half-marathon not only to raise funds, but also to raise awareness about juvenile rheumatoid disease. "With juvenile arthritis affecting a staggering 1 in 250 children, we are fortunate to have some of the best pediatric rheumatology care in North America here in Vancouver," said Dr. Ron Woznow, Executive Director of The Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon Division. "Thanks to our donors' support for The Arthritis Society and the Ross Petty Chair for Pediatric Rheumatology, kids like Zachary will continue to receive a high standard of care today and hopefully a cure tomorrow."
Alison is dedicating each kilometre of her 21km trek to all of the joints that trouble Zachary, and to all of the people that are supporting her efforts. In less than 48 hours after registering for the run, Alison's family, friends and colleagues had donated more than $3,500. All funds will go to The Arthritis Society and help the Cassie and Friends Fund for Children with Juvenile Arthritis.
In its nine year history, the SVHM has raised $746,000 for health-care related charities. In an exciting development to celebrate the event's tenth anniversary the SVHM has expanded the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge to ten charities. Increasing the scope of this unique fundraising and awareness opportunity will boost event participation and fundraising dollars to support the following charities whose programs and services assist hundreds of thousands of clients across the province each year:
- The Alzheimer's Society of B.C.
- The Arthritis Society, B.C. & Yukon Division
- BC Children's Hospital Foundation
- Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
- Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland
- CKNW Orphan's Fund
- The Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
- Rick Hansen Foundation
- VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
"We're proud of what we've been able to give back to the community over the past nine years," said Rob Wilkins, Scotiabank's Vice-President, Downtown Vancouver and Northern B.C. District. "To continue this great legacy, and to support our charitable partners, Scotiabank will offer reduced entry fees for all runners and walkers who fundraise for one of the ten charities."
The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k is part of the prestigious Canada Running Series. As one of Vancouver's premier running events, the SVHM attracts more than 4,500 runners and walkers of all levels, including many elite athletes and visitors to the city.
Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. In 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. To learn more about how Scotiabank supports the communities where its employees live and work please visit www.scotiabank.com.
On-line registration closes June 17, 2008. To register or to donate to one of the ten charitable recipients, please visit www.vancouverhalf.com.
To donate to Alison and Zachary, please visit Alison's fundraising page at http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=1799595.
- 30 -
For more information contact:
Clifton Cunningham, Race Director, Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k, (778) 786-3116, clifton@canadarunningseries.com
Kim Struthers, Scotiabank Public Affairs
(778) 327-5451, kim.struthers@scotiabank.com